Opinion
Richmond Virginia –-(Ammoland.com)- Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has unveiled his proposal for sweeping new gun control for the Commonwealth.
The Democrat sensing an opening introduced seven new measures at a press conference ahead of the new legislative session. These new gun control proposals are the most radical that Virginia has ever seen.
“We lose too many Virginians each year to senseless gun violence, and it is time we take meaningful steps to protect the health and safety of our citizens,” said Governor Northam. “I look forward to opening a dialogue with the General Assembly on this legislative package of reasonable gun violence reforms, which appropriately balances Second Amendment Rights with public safety.”
The first proposal is a new “red flag law.” A “red flag law” is a term for an extreme risk protection order (ERPO). An ERPO lets police take away a person's guns without due process, killing some gun owners in the process.
Groups such as Gun Owners of America call these laws “gun confiscation orders.” Police go to a secret court to get the order. The gun owner is not present or even aware that police are seeking the right to take away their guns.
The burden of proof to take out an ERPO is very low. All that needs to happen is a neighbor or family member to decide to go to the police and tell them that the gun owner is a threat to themselves or others. It could cost thousands of dollars to restore the gun owners constitutionally protected right.
Universal Background Checks
The second part of the package would require universal background checks for all gun transfers. Right now, only sales through an FFL needs to go through the background check process. Gun control advocates say this will cut down on guns that end up in the hands of criminals.
What universal background checks prevent is a gun owner in a mental crisis letting a friend hold their guns for them. If the friend took control of the firearms without going through a background check, they would both be guilty of a felony.
Northam also wants to bring back the one handgun a month law. Before 2012 Virginia residents without a concealed carry permit were limited to purchasing one handgun a month. The State repealed the law under Republican leadership.
Since the repeal of the law gun crimes has not experienced an increase in frequency. The statics show that the law did not affect crime. It seems like Democrats are aiming this proposed law at gun stores to cut into their bottom line. Most gun stores are small family-owned businesses.
A fourth bill would make it a crime for not reporting a lost or stolen firearm. The firearm owner would have 24 hours to report the gun missing to police. Failure to do so would now penalize gun owners that have already been victims of a crime a second time.
The fifth measure is “The child access prevention bill.” The bill aims at increasing the penalties of leaving a loaded, unsecured firearm around a child. Under the current law, the child in question would have to be 14 years or younger for the authorities to charge the parents with a crime. The new law raises that age to 18 years old.
“The protective order bill” would prevent anyone under a protective order from owning or purchasing a firearm. The subject of the protective order would have 24 hours to turn over their guns to authorities and certify the transfer with the courts.
The final bill is an “assault-style weapons ban” bill. This bill would go farther than just banning modern sporting rifles. It would prohibit any gun capable of holding more than ten rounds. Democrats claim this ban would cut down on gun deaths.
“I am honored to work with Governor Northam to advance commonsense gun safety measures. Assault weapons are intended for the battlefields of war and do not belong in our neighborhoods, schools, and places of worship,” said Delegate Kathy Tran. “It is time for us to pass an assault weapons ban and make Virginia safer for our families and communities.”
Gun rights advocates are quick to point out that the statistics do not support the idea that an “assault weapons” ban would cut down on gun deaths. According to the Clinton era Department of Justice, the now expired nationwide “assault weapons” ban had little to no effect on crime.
Since New York passed their “assault weapons” ban their gun death rate has not decreased. In fact, New York has seen a slight increase in gun deaths. Maryland, on the other hand, has seen a significant increase in gun death since passing their “assault weapons” ban.
After the Sandy Hook shooting Maryland introduced and passed sweeping gun control measures. Before passing the laws, Maryland’s gun death rate was two percentage points lower than the national average. Maryland’s current rate is slightly higher than the national average.
None of these bills are expected to pass the Republican-held legislature, but Democrats believe the tide is swinging in their direction and plan to keep introducing these bills until they pass.
About John Crump
John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. He is the former CEO of Veritas Firearms, LLC and is the co-host of The Patriot News Podcast which can be found at www.blogtalkradio.com/patriotnews. John has written extensively on the patriot movement including 3%'ers, Oath Keepers, and Militias. In addition to the Patriot movement, John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and is currently working on a book on leftist deplatforming methods and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss, on Facebook at realjohncrump, or at www.crumpy.com.
1. Our U.S.A. Gun Owners Citizens must Protect our Handguns Rights & Long Guns too! Do you Agree!! yes? Or Disagree? No? Why?
The NRA nods in approval.
“An unarmed man, is an enslaved man”! “A Disarmed man, is a conquered man”! “I shall not be enslaved or conquered”!
Sic Semper Tyrannis !
An armed citizenry will never be unwillingly forced into railroad boxcars at gunpoint.
What we need is to stand together in the street ready for a fight short of that it’s gonna get worse I promise I live in Virginia and have Ar-15s with 30 round mags and plan on keeping them IAM telling you get ready for it if you care about your gun rights this is the olny thing that they will understand if not moving to a new State is going to do you no good it’s gonna happen all over the US I don’t care what laws are passed IAM not given them shit. STAND AND FIGHT OR LAY… Read more »
The red flag , already exist under mental health and TDO procedures, whereas anyone can file a complaint against another for any reason, if an official of any capacity decides mental health in in question, those procedures can take place and losses of gun rights occur, This proposal is nothing more than a piggy back enforcement , that this should never occur or pass. because it already exist. The universal back ground check also already exist, its a felony to make a willful sale of firearm to a known prohibited person, again a piggy back of law. This is all… Read more »
@TERRY L
It’s more than a piggy back. It’s a complete end around run on Due Process.
I have attempted to point out to some in the past that Due Process already allows for mental health evaluations at a judges order, and once found in the positive due process is observed and the individual is committed, firearms transferred to family or impounded and held(Unless unconstitutional CAF is employed).
Civil asset forfeiture is another topic of unconstitutionality that should be discussed more at this moment, but back to the topic at hand.
CAF is something that all citizens’ should be concerned about as anyone can be hit with this despicable violation of civil rights.
@Crotalus Maxximus
Indeed. its as flagrant as the red flag issue. It is part of the list that forms
“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
JasonThe rights of law-abiding gun owners of Virginia have never before been as seriously threatened as they are this year by the administration of Governor Northam and the Democrats in the General Assembly.
The VIRGINIA CITIZENS DEFENSE LEAGUE is the top grass-roots Second Amendment Rights organization in Virginia, and an EXCELLENT place for those opposed to the Governor’s outrageous plans to disarm and demonize law-abiding Virginians to join together, multiply their effectiveness, and help keep Virginia FREE. For more information on these issues, visit: http://www.vcdl.org
The good people of “Virginia as well as all people of this country need to be awake and alert now more than ever. The new Democratic congress under the gavel of Nancy Pelosi has vowed to introduce and impose sweeping new gun legislation. Their gun control objectives have been pushed to the front of the line since they lost the Presidential election. They see the writing on the wall with the Trump administration seeking to drain their swamp. These so called Democrats are not Democrats at all and haven’t been for over 40 years when they first began adopting the… Read more »
My House cat is fully armed !!! Just like me !!
If he wants to stop senseless killings he should start with drunk drivers.
“senseless” = the diarrhea emanating from d-rat vocal equipment
whenever I am asked the question of why would anyone want or need to own an AR-15 or a 17 round 9mm; my answer is “for the same reason the cops have them” cops are not soldiers operating on a battlefield, they only carry a firearm to protect themselves and innocent people around them. They are not supposed to be out there shooting anyone unless their lives depend on it. Sounds a lot like why civilians own personal defense weapons, doesn’t it? I always hear the grumble about how cops are up against bad guys and gang bangers and drug… Read more »
These proposed bills already exist in new jermany , and our moonbeam governor is not done destroying this state by any time soon !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Interesting… this is the same laundrylist if ilegal gun laws Bloomburg just shoved down the thraots of the gulible sheeple of Washington State… WHEN will it be illegal for individuals and corporations to pour money into state ballot issues where they are not residents?
@Tionico
Probably just slightly less long than it will take to get term limits and fiscal responsibility in Congress.
Actually, Gentlemen, that brings up a good question: why do corporations (non being creatures of statute) have Civil Rights, when Civil Rights were only intended for people?
@WildBill
The answer is in the first amendment.
Because we the people have a right to assemble peaceably, and to petition the government.
A corporation is nothing more than a group of individuals formed for pursuing a common goal, be it business, leisure, or any other reason. The fact that they act as a group does not diminish their rights as individuals, therefore the group may act with rights in representation, barring that the group becomes tyrannical over its members via the leadership.
@Rev, Oh, then can a corporation become POTUS. I think that there is a fundamental difference between a human being and a creature of statute. Corporations require permission from one of the states to come into being. Corporations need never die. Corporations need permission from some state to dissolve, people do not. Corporations do not need air, water, or food. Corporations were a relatively new thing at the time of the founders, and are not mentioned in our Constitution. Corporations were looked upon with great suspicion because the share holders could escape indebtedness if the corporation failed. I think that… Read more »
@Wild Bill Indeed, only an individual may be elevated to elected office. But that is the difference between standing in court/legal representation and the rights of the people as individuals. The argument you make is why can a Corporation not be elected. The answer again is the Constitution in Article 1. It lays out the process that elected office is for individuals and each branch is responsible for the organization of those members excluding the other branches. In each instance for a position of office it mandates that it be held by individuals. At the same time, because it is… Read more »
Perhaps it’s because we’ve allowed lawyers to become politicians who can make new laws.
Exactly, i have been saying this for years. What right does a rich guy in New York have to fight to take away the rights of people 3000 miles away. I believe that this needs to change, no out of state money should be allowed on ballot initiatives or any votes or elections. I also believe it needs to be illegal for any candidates for office at any level to accept money from foreign countries.
Wow, these anti-2A groups certainly have their agendas well scripted and well rehearsed. After reading what is trying to be imposed upon Virginians is eerily similar to what 2A advocates got stuffed down our throats this last election cycle in Washington state via I-1639. Fight it like cat and dog, unless you want the 2A to get trampled upon again. Can you say orchestrated effort? The other big question is where is the NRA during all of these individual state-sponsored attempts at curbing our constitutional rights as defined by 2A? Well, it seems that they are morphing into the AARP… Read more »
What we need is an Electoral College for state elections also. One vote per county, voting the way the majority of the county votes. This would give the smaller populated counties a say in what happens in their state. Tyranny of the Majority must be stopped.
You want a war cause that is exactly how you get a war. This state is a heavy pro gun state and it’s residents will not stand to have gun rights infringe! Just remember Democrat retards, there are more guns behind doors of citizens then what the police or military could handle. Good luck trying to get that bill passed when this state votes 90% Republican.
Two questions come to mind.
1. What happens when an important democrat contributor gets legitimately “red flagged?”
2. What long gun, other than a shotgun, will police carry? Police cruisers are not on the “battlefield.” Criminals will carry 30 or 50 round AR’s!
“Both the oligarch and Tyrant mistrust the people, and therefore deprive them of arms.” — Aristotle
@2WarAbnVet
Those who refuse to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
Great post, and way to prove “nihil sub sole novum”
Delegate Kathy Tran is a disgrace to the American Dream and a violator of her oath of office. Having fled the tyranny of the Communist take over of Vietnam she wants to institute that very same curse upon the American citizen’s she claims to represent. It is the American Right to own a firearm that kept this country the lone beacon of freedom which led her family here to begin with.
Most of the State of Virginia votes Republican, and is Pro 2nd Amendment. Voter turnout in the last election was record breaking, for a Midterm Election. The population centers of Northern Virginia, and Tidewater, are Democratic strongholds.There are not enough voters in the main parts of Virginia, to overcome the Democratic voter base of the Liberal strongholds. Bloomberg money has bought the last two elections, bringing us to the point of being a “Blue” State. Do not think of most Virginians as apathetic,or lazy voters, this is NOT the case. Our 2nd amendment freedoms are as precious to us, as… Read more »
Planned parenthood KILLS MORE people than people Killing people with guns. Wake up people vote these people OUT OF OFFICE.OR LOSE MORE OF YOUR FREEDOM.
great point Rich! Planned Parenthood is a demonic organization that kills babies and they need to be completely defunded from receiving our taxpayer dollars. Northam as you know is a rabid pro-abort; he is a medical doctor so he definitely knows when life begins but he is also evil and doesn’t care that babies are being killed IMHO. The leftists like Northam are tools of the deep state and are using gun control and abortion to further the agenda of the NWO/ deep state which is to depopulate and subjugate the world population so that the decreased common people of… Read more »
I wonder how many people die every year in Virginia from auto’s verses gun’s?
Do they want to limit or ban cars.
Idiots that get elected to office are of both parties and need removed.
How’s this shit working out in California??
Every last one of you needs to be at the polls voting these bums out when it’s time.
Ben, I try but the majority of the population of the city I live in is a demographic that votes 90+ democratic every election. Between them and the DC liberals in northern VA it’s tough.
Uncle T,
I had to move from Commiefornia for that very reason. I want and need my vote to count. If we are the silent majority than we need to all show up at the polls. If we can’t win our areas because most are dummycrats then we need to move to where we can effect the vote. That’s what they are doing and they will destroy this Republic if left unchallenged.
Uncle T is right. I live in VA and my district is the same way. I personally watched liberal voters be brought in on charter busses during the 2012 election. My polling place is just down the street from my house so I watched the show. I wonder where those people came from and who payed for them to be transported in? Makes you wonder if your vote counts.
It can’t be worse the the state of New Jermany..we are planning to move to Virginia next year. Just hope this crap fails by that time.
They will continue these orchestrated “mass attacks” till they have enough sheeple to agree to them.
Sorry. We wolves ignore the bleeting of sheep.
My heart goes out to our Governor in this, his hour of medical need. It’s amazing that someone so ill can be elected Governor while suffering from the dreaded HUTAS virus (“Head Up Their Ass Syndrome”). I am glad he is in Virginia with our world class medical care so he gets treatment soon before the good citizens of the Commonwealth have a violent reaction to his medical condition. I have been told by medical experts that the HUTAS virus is similar to the HITS virus (Head In The Sand) but doesn’t have nearly as bad of associated smell. Long… Read more »
If you had not stated that it was virginia, heaven knows this sounds like Rubio, Trump, and Kasich right now.
Anyone coming here and reading this article keep in mind this is where we are heading if you refuse to look at facts or history and keep blindly supporting Politicians of any party or groups like the NRA instead of holding them accountable.
The start of an attempt to take away mine and your rights. Everybody on the train were going to protect you from harm. Must of been what the germans told the jews.